Loose-leaf ledger.



Patented May 20, I902.

J. BARKER. LOOSE LEAF LEDGER.

J A J ,0 j K w//////// & N

Patented May 20, I902.

2 Sheets$heat 2.

J. BARKER. LDOSE'LEAF' LEDGER.

(Apphcahon filed May 31, 1901 7N5 nonms PETER! co. wuruumo. WASHINGTON. n c,

(No ldndgl.)

U IT D STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE.

' JAMES BARKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES F. BAOKUS,

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LOOSE-LEAFHLEDGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 700,604, dated-May 20, 1902.

Application filed May 31, 1901. Serial No. 62,610. (No model.)

in the county of WVayne and State ofjMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Ledgers,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has reference to lodgers of the loose-leaf type, the covers of which are adjustable to allow of the insertion or withdrawal of the ledger-leaves.

The invention consists in novel and simple means for adjusting the covers and in means for evening the sides of the ledger-leavesafter the latter have been inserted in the ledger.

The invention still further consists in various other details of construction, as will be more fully hereinafter described and illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a loose-leaf ledger embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of a ledger, illustratingthe mechanism for evening the ledger-leaves. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 0c 58, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line y y, Fig. 3; and Fig.6 is a sectional view of one ofthe ledger-posts.

In the drawings thus briefly referred to the reference-letters A and B designate the top and bottom covers of the ledger, each of which comprises two parts, the cover proper, C, and a clamping member D,hinged to the cover proper in any suitable manner.

E designates posts, preferably telescopic in construction, arranged'intermediate the covers, forming vertical guides for the clamping members D.

The upperclamping member is provided at its ends with bearings a, and in thesebearings is swiveled the screw-shaft F, having I right and left hand threads G and H, respectively, thereon. One end of the screw-shaft projects beyond one side of the ledger and is squared to permit of its being engaged by a suitable key. The screw-shaft described constitutes the preferable form of operating device for driving either toward or away from each other two movable members I and J,

preferably in'the form of nuts, arranged upon the shaft, as shown, one for and engaging eachthread. Each nut is also provided with an apertured ear-o which depends from the nut, as illustrated. The upper clamping member D is provided with a vertical slot K, extending longitudinally thereof, and through which the movable members carrying the ears thereon extend, as plainly indicated in I. and L, designate rigid connections extending diagonally from the movable members described to the opposite or lower clamping member. The connections referred to comprise "rigid links, each having a pivotal conneotionfwith the depending ear upon its respective nut and also with the lower clamping member near one end.

The movable members referred to are so arranged upon the screw-shaft that upon the actuation of the operating device in one direction they may be driven toward each other, thereby clamping the clamping members upon the sheets, and upon the movement of said operating device in' the opposite direction will separate the covers.

In constructing ledger-leaves for loose-leaf ledgers each leaf is provided with openings,

such as a, through which the connecting-posts of the ledgerexte'nd,'andin order to allow the leaves to be readily? detached from the posts or to be adjusted vertically thereon the openings are necessarily of, considerably larger ma'gnitudethan thediameter of the posts.

As the result of this some of the ledger-leaves project at-the sides beyond others, and on account of their n'otbeing evened up at the sides the leaves are liable to be torn or bent.

vI have providedmeans for obviating this de- 90,

are each shown to consist of two members 0 and d, the members having a sliding engagement one with the other and being carried,

respectively, by the top and bottom covers. too

The member 0 is cut away on one face in proximity to each edge or side and the side The evening devices are-preferably 5 portions 6 are undercut, as at f"- The complementary member (1 has its edges beveled, as at g, to permit of its engaging within the recess and the undercuts. The parts are also proportioned in such manner that the outer face of the member cl will lie in the same plane with the outer face of the strips 0, so that a plain surface will be presented by each guide to the sides of the ledger-leaves. As shown, the members of the sectional guide are preferably connected to the clamping members of the covers in such manner as to be adjusted transversely of the ledger. Each of the section members is provided with a head 71', which extends within a transverse slotj, formed in its clamping member.

10 designates screws extending within the clamping members and swiveled therein and projecting through the heads 1', as indicated.

The ledger-leaves being inserted within the ledger, the sides of the leaves are evened by adjusting, through the mechanism described, the sectional guides transversely of the, covers. In cases where the connecting posts or guides intermediate the ledger-covers are of the same diameter throughout only one sectional guide is required for the purpose of evening the sides of the leaves. Where the posts are of the telescoping type, as illustrated in the present case, it will be obvious that two evening devices will be necessary, one on each side of the ledger, on account of the two diameters of the single post.

While I have shown the preferable type of evener to be used in connection with the ledger, I do not desire to be limited to the same, as my invention embraces any mechanism or device by the use of which the sides of the ledger-leaves may be evened after the insertion of the leaves within the ledger.

A further feature of .my invention resides in the manner of securing the post sections or guides to the ledger-covers, the novel means employed being of the following construction:

A designates a series of threaded apertures formed within the cover A of the ledger in proximity to its rear edge.

B represents members in the form of threaded plugs arranged within the apertures and projecting beyond the inner face of the cover.

The outer ends of the plug members, as shown,

are flush with the cover-top. The sections 0 of the telescopic posts E are internally threaded at their upper ends and engage the plug projections that extend beyond the cover. The bottom cover B is apertured in a manner similar to the top cover and is provided with similar plug members D of less diameter than the plugs B to permit of their carrying the smaller post-sections E.

It will be obvious from the construction of the securing means that the posts are capable of being readily attached or detached from the ledger and that no portion of the posts or their connections project beyond the outer surfaces of the coverss What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a loose-leaf ledger,.the combination with the top and bottom covers, of connecting-posts intermediate thecovers, aseries of ledger-leaves loosely connected to the posts, and means for evening the sides of the leaves after their insertion within the ledger.

2. In a loose-leaf ledger, the combination with the top and bottom covers, of telescoping posts connecting the covers, a sectional guide at each side of the ledger and intermediate the covers, and means for adj usting said guide transversely of the covers.

3. In a loose-leaf ledger, the combination with the top and bottom covers, connectingposts therebetween, a sectional guide at one side of the ledger, the guide members being adjustably secured to the upper and lower covers, respectively, and adjusting-screws swiveled upon the covers for operating the guides.

4. In a loose-leaf ledger, the combination with the ledger-covers each having a plurality of threaded apertures formed therein in proximity to the rear edge, the apertures in one cover being of less diameter than the corresponding apertures in the complementary cover, of threaded plugs engaging within the apertures flush with the outer sides of the covers and projecting beyond the opposite inner sides, and tubular post-sections threaded upon the projecting portions of the plugs, the sections on one cover telescoping with the sectionson the complementary cover.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES BARKER.

\Vitnesses:

M. B. ODocnnnrr, H. 0. SMITH. 

